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Travelogue New Zealand

Oct 26
Thu

Karekare Beach

The black sand is glistening. The long waves leave cloud mirrors on it when they back away. Above the sand, in the distance, a mixture from mist and a warm flickering in front of the narrow knife-edged ridge. In the other direction there's a fata morgana, all shades of blue. Purple in the sky and green in the sand. My view is hooked by the pointed rock in the water, where the waves are leaving little falls with every coming and going.

Karekare Beach · more Karekare Beach pictures

Wideness. On the ground a handful of white shells, wood, a coconut. The sand is so soft it feels like walking on a cushion. Fine and powdery. Where the water has been before the surface has a thin hardened coat, which splits in and frees the soft sand by every step. Walking on this sand is sensuous.

On the way to the beach across the dunes small birds with yellow heads. Climbing onto the Watchman at the end of the walk and sitting there on warm boards in the sun with a view to the surf. Walking through the little stream, which ends at the bird meadows at the carpark.

Black sand · more Karekare Beach pictures

At the carpark there's a wooden Māori figure set on a circle of stones. Sitting here I'm listening to the birds. Tui and black bird are singing, mixing up familiar and strange sounds. A curious sparrow at my side. The meadow on the other side of the bridge is wonderful for playing frisbee so we do. Some walkers are passing by and greet with a smile, also enjoying the beautiful day. I like to walk to the viewpoint from here, but the walk turns out as steep, wet and slippery. I'm not wearing the right shoes and decide to walk an other way, which starts behind the meadow and leads to the beach passing a gate from pohutukawas. Another large meadow with tall lush plants and some trees. Looks like paradise. There are some narrow paths leading up the hills. I choose one of them and the scene changes in an instant – I'm walking through dense native forest now. Pongas, palms, ferns and the scent of moist wood. The paths are moody and steep again, but better to walk because they are partly affixed with some wood. Many little birds, unknown to me and a black beetle with a proboscis and two thorns on his back. The sun gives the ferns a shine.

Fern · more Karekare Beach pictures

Tired from the heat I walk back to the carpark across palm meadows, hot sand dunes and through the cool stream. After a snack and some chilling Ralph comes with me to walk this gorgeous meadow beach walk in the evening again. When the sun sets we say good bye to Karekare Beach, the evening sky's mirroring in the water.

Night falls on Karekare Beach · more Karekare Beach pictures

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Karekare Beach